Back in 2011 at the Olympic Club 1500 Meter Swim Meet, Laura Val made history in what SwimSwam named “the greatest swim ever,” setting six 60-64 masters age group world records in one race. In that single swim, she took down the old marks in the 50m free (29.89), the 100m free (1:05.16), the 200m free (2:24.19), the 400m free (5:02.65), the 800m free (10:21.68), and the 1500m free (19:38.63), beating out the old 1500 record by 1:08.

This weekend, newly aged up into the 65-69 category, Val came to the same meet, the 2016 Olympic Club 1500 Meter Swim Meet in San Francisco, and took down four masters age group world records in one fell swoop.

Her records came at the 200m mark (2:25.41), the 400m mark (5:06.74), the 800m mark (10:34.67), and the 1500m finish (20:21.61).

Three of the previous records were set in 2015 by Val’s fellow American masters superstar Charlotte Davis. The 200 split took down Davis’s 2:29.35 by nearly four seconds, the 400 split took down Davis’s 5:23.19 by over 16 seconds, and the 800 split beat Davis’s 11:09.87 by 35 seconds.

Most remarkably, Val’s 1500 swim of 20:21.61 was 1:22 faster than any woman aged 65-69 has ever swam. The previous world record was a 21:43.60 set by Australian swimmer Jen Thomasson in 2008.

One other FINA masters world record fell during this weekend’s meet; Lynn Marshall of Canada took down Val’s 2010 18:43.73 for the 55-59 age group with an 18:06.01.

Laura, we met in Canada in 2014 before we swam in the same race. I came 3rd or 4th – way behind you. Meeting and swimming with you was a highlight of my swimming career. You are a legend. Well done again!

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3 years ago

About Hannah Hecht

Hannah Hecht grew up in Kansas and spent most of her childhood trying to convince coaches to let her swim backstroke in freestyle sets. She took her passion to Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa and swam at NAIA Nationals all four years. After graduating in 2015, she moved to …